Information processing system, computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, information processing method and information processor

ABSTRACT

A first information processor executes a program or a routine which uses wireless communication and transmits, while the program or the routine is being executed, identification information for identifying the program or the routine to an unspecified apparatus. A second information processor receives the identification information transmitted from the first information processor to the unspecified apparatus and selects, from among a plurality of programs or a plurality of routines stored in the second information processor, a program or a routine corresponding to the identification information as a program or a routine to be executed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 13/745,290, filed Jan.18, 2013 which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2012-035351 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-035352, filed onFeb. 21, 2012, are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The technology shown here relates to an information processing system, acomputer-readable non-transitory storage medium, an informationprocessing method and an information processor, and more particularly toan information processing system, a computer-readable non-transitorystorage medium, an information processing method and an informationprocessor which use wireless communication.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Conventionally, wireless communication devices which perform wirelesscommunication with other wireless communication devices in acommunicable range using wireless communication have been known.

An objective of the present technology is to provide an informationprocessing system, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, aninformation processing method and an information processor in which anapplication that uses wireless communication can be easily started.

The above objective is attained by, for example, exemplaryconfigurations described below.

A first exemplary configuration is an information processing systemincluding a first information processor and a second informationprocessor each having a wireless communication function. The firstinformation processor comprises: a first execution unit which executes aprogram or a routine which uses wireless communication; and a firsttransmission unit which transmits, while the program or the routine isbeing executed, identification information for identifying the programor the routine to an unspecified apparatus. The second informationprocessor comprises: a second reception unit which receives theidentification information transmitted from the first informationprocessor to the unspecified apparatus; a selection unit which selects,from among a plurality of programs or a plurality of routines stored inthe second information processor, a program or a routine correspondingto the identification information received by the second reception unitas a program or a routine to be executed; and a second execution unitwhich executes the program or the routine selected by the selectionunit.

The first transmission unit may transmit a beacon at predeterminedintervals, thereby transmitting the identification information to theunspecified apparatus.

The second execution unit may execute the program or the routineselected by the selection unit, thereby conducting wirelesscommunication with the first information processor.

The program or the routine executed by the first execution unit and thesecond execution unit may be a program or a routine of an applicationwhich allows participation of a user of the first information processortogether with a user of the second information processor using wirelesscommunication.

The second information processor may comprise an inquiry unit which asksthe user, before the program or the routine selected by the selectionunit is executed by the second execution unit, whether or not to executethe selected program or routine.

The selection unit automatically may select the program or the routinecorresponding to the identification information received by the secondreception unit. The second execution unit may automatically execute theprogram or the routine selected by the selection unit.

The first execution unit and the second execution unit may execute aprogram or a routine which uses wireless communication between the firstinformation processor and the second information processor withoutestablishing connection between the first information processor and thesecond information processor.

The first transmission unit may repeatedly transmit, while the programor the routine is being executed, predetermined data used in the programor the routine together with the identification information to theunspecified apparatus. The second reception unit may receive theidentification information and the predetermined data transmitted fromthe first information processor to the unspecified apparatus. The secondexecution unit may execute the program or the routine using thepredetermined data received by the second reception unit.

The second information processor may comprise a second transmission unitwhich repeatedly transmits, while the program or the routine is beingexecuted, predetermined data used in the program or the routine togetherwith identification information for identifying the program or theroutine to the unspecified apparatus. The first information processormay comprise a first reception unit which receives the predetermineddata transmitted from the second information processor to theunspecified apparatus. The first execution unit may execute the programor the routine using the predetermined data received by the firstreception unit.

The program or the routine executed by the first execution unit and thesecond execution unit may be a program or a routine of an applicationwhich allows, in a mission started by a user of the first informationprocessor, participation of a user of the second information processorin the middle of the mission. The predetermined data may be data of aprogress of the mission being executed.

The program or the routine may be a program or a routine for a gameprocess.

A second exemplary configuration is a computer-readable non-transitorystorage medium having stored therein an information processing programwhich causes a computer of an information processor having a wirelesscommunication function to function as: a reception unit which receivesidentification information which is transmitted from another informationprocessor to an unspecified apparatus and is information for identifyinga program or a routine which uses wireless communication and iscurrently being executed in the other information processor; a selectionunit which selects, from among a plurality of programs or a plurality ofroutines stored in the information processor, a program or a routinecorresponding to the identification information received by thereception unit as a program or a routine to be executed; and anexecution unit which executes the program or the routine selected by theselection unit.

The information processing program may be stored in anycomputer-readable storage medium (e.g., a flexible disk, a hard disk, anoptical disk, a magneto-optical disc, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape,a semiconductor memory card, a ROM, a RAM, and the like).

A third exemplary configuration is an information processing methodperformed in an information processing system including a firstinformation processor and a second information processor each having awireless communication function. The information processing methodcomprises: executing, in the first information processor, a program or aroutine which uses wireless communication; transmitting, in the firstinformation processor, while the program or the routine is beingexecuted, identification information for identifying the program or theroutine to an unspecified apparatus; receiving, in the secondinformation processor, the identification information transmitted fromthe first information processor to the unspecified apparatus; selecting,in the second information processor, from among a plurality of programsor a plurality of routines stored in the second information processor, aprogram or a routine corresponding to the identification informationhaving been received as a program or a routine to be executed; andexecuting, in the second information processor, the program or theroutine having been selected.

A fourth exemplary configuration is an information processor having awireless communication function. The information processor comprises: areception unit which receives identification information transmittedfrom another information processor to an unspecified apparatus, theinformation being for identifying a program or a routine which useswireless communication and is currently being executed in the otherinformation processor; a selection unit which selects, from among aplurality of programs or a plurality of routines stored in theinformation processor, a program or a routine corresponding to theidentification information received by the reception unit as a programor a routine to be executed; and an execution unit which executes theprogram or the routine selected by the selection unit.

According to the present technology, an application that uses wirelesscommunication can be easily started.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a non-limiting configuration exampleof a hand-held game apparatus 10;

FIG. 2 shows a non-limiting example of a game image displayed on ahand-held game apparatus 10 a;

FIG. 3 shows a non-limiting example of a game image displayed on thehand-held game apparatus 10 a;

FIG. 4 shows a non-limiting example of a game image displayed on thehand-held game apparatus 10 a;

FIG. 5 shows a non-limiting example of a game image displayed on thehand-held game apparatus 10 a;

FIG. 6 shows a non-limiting example of how a mission beacon istransmitted from the hand-held game apparatus 10 a;

FIG. 7 shows a non-limiting example of a game image displayed on ahand-held game apparatus 10 b;

FIG. 8 shows a non-limiting example of a game image displayed on thehand-held game apparatus 10 b;

FIG. 9 shows a non-limiting example of how mission beacons aretransmitted from the hand-held game apparatuses 10 a and 10 b,respectively;

FIG. 10 shows a non-limiting example of how mission beacons aretransmitted from the hand-held game apparatuses 10 a, 10 b, and ahand-held game apparatus 10 c, respectively;

FIG. 11 shows a non-limiting example of a program and information storedin a main memory;

FIG. 12 shows a non-limiting example of information included in amission beacon;

FIG. 13 shows a part of a flow chart illustrating a non-limiting exampleof processing executed by a processor; and

FIG. 14 shows a residual part of the flow chart illustrating thenon-limiting example of the processing executed by the processor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present technology will bedescribed.

In FIG. 1, a hand-held game apparatus 10 includes an input device 11, adisplay device 12, a processor 13, an internal storage unit 14, a mainmemory 15, and a wireless communication device 16.

The input device 11 is operated by a user of the hand-held gameapparatus 10 and outputs a signal based on an operation by the user. Theinput device 11 is, for example, a cross switch, a push button, or atouch panel.

The display device 12 displays an image generated by the hand-held gameapparatus 10 on a screen. Typically, the display device 12 is a liquidcrystal display.

The internal storage unit 14 stores a computer program executed by theprocessor 13. Typically, the internal storage unit 14 is a flash EEPROM.

The main memory 15 temporarily stores the computer program andinformation.

The wireless communication device 16 transmits/receives a signal to/fromanother hand-held game apparatus via wireless communication.

Next, an outline of an operation of the hand-held game apparatus 10 willbe described.

A user (player) of the hand-held game apparatus 10 can play a game for asingle player (hereinafter, referred to as single player game) using thehand-held game apparatus 10. FIG. 2 shows an example of a game imagedisplayed on the display device 12 while the single player game is beingexecuted. On the display device 12, a game world including a playercharacter controlled by the player, non-player characters (NPC),enemies, and the like which are controlled by a computer is displayed.The player aims to achieve an objective (e.g., defeating a bosscharacter) of the single player game by controlling the playercharacter.

When a predetermined condition (e.g., talking to a specific non-playercharacter, or moving to a specific place in the game world) is satisfiedduring play of the single player game, a message asking the playerwhether or not to start a “mission” is displayed as shown in FIG. 3. The“mission” is a game aimed at achieving an objective different from thatof the single player game in the same game world as the single playergame. A plurality of kinds of missions are provided in advance. As willbe described below, the mission may be a game in which a single playeror a plurality of players together aim to achieve a predeterminedobjective, or a game in which a plurality of players compete with eachother to achieve a predetermined objective.

When the player selects “YES” in FIG. 3, a list of missions is displayedas shown in FIG. 4. In an example of FIG. 4, three missions which are“mission A,” “mission B,” and “mission C” are displayed. “The mission A”is “to pick up 60 or more balls in 10 minutes.” “The mission B” is “todefeat 50 or more enemies in 30 minutes.” “The mission C” is “to talk to30 or more non-player characters in 10 minutes.” The player can select adesired mission from the list.

When the player selects “the mission A” in FIG. 4, the mission A isstarted in the same game world as the single player game that the playerhas been playing until then. That is, the player can enjoy the missionin parallel with the single player game that he/she has been playinguntil then without suspending it.

When the mission A is started, a plurality of balls appear in a field ofthe game world of the single player game as shown in FIG. 5. While themission is being executed, information (my score, total score, timeleft, and the like) of a progress status of the mission is displayed inaddition to the game image of the single player game as shown in FIG. 5,and the information is updated in real time.

Once the mission A is started, the hand-held game apparatus 10(hereinafter, referred to as hand-held game apparatus 10 a so as todistinguish it from other hand-held game apparatuses 10) periodically(e.g., at intervals of 100 ms) broadcasts a beacon signal (hereinafter,referred to as mission beacon) that includes information of the missioncurrently being executed via the wireless communication device 16 asshown in FIG. 6. The mission beacon includes, as will be describedlater, mission identification information, mission conditioninformation, player identification information, personal scoreinformation, and the like (FIG. 12).

As shown in FIG. 6, when another hand-held game apparatus 10 b which iscurrently executing the same game (single player game) as the hand-heldgame apparatus 10 a exists in a receivable range of the mission beaconof the hand-held game apparatus 10 a, the other hand-held game apparatus10 b can receive the mission beacon of the hand-held game apparatus 10a.

Upon receipt of the mission beacon of the hand-held game apparatus 10 a,the hand-held game apparatus 10 b displays a message asking a playerthereof whether or not to participate in the mission currently beingexecuted in the hand-held game apparatus 10 a as shown in FIG. 7. In adescription below, the player of the hand-held game apparatus 10 a andthe player of the hand-held game apparatus 10 b are referred to asplayer A and player B, respectively.

When the player B selects “YES” in FIG. 7, the mission A is started inthe same game world as the single player game that the player B has beenplaying until then as shown in FIG. 8. That is, the player B can alsoenjoy the mission in parallel with the single player game that he/shehas been playing until then without suspending it.

Similarly to the hand-held game apparatus 10 a, when the mission A isstarted in the hand-held game apparatus 10 b, a plurality of ballsappear in a field of the game world of the single player game andinformation of a progress status of the mission is displayed as shown inFIG. 8. At a time point of FIG. 8 (that is, a time point immediatelyafter the player B's participation in the mission A), a time left is9:43 instead of 10:00 because 17 seconds has passed from a time point atwhich the mission A is started in the hand-held game apparatus 10 a. Themission beacon of the hand-held game apparatus 10 a received by thehand-held game apparatus 10 b includes score information of the playerA. Consequently, while a my score is 0, a total score is 3. It should benoted that a my score is a player's own personal score while a totalscore is a sum of personal scores of all of players who areparticipating in a same mission. Accordingly, a condition (time left,total score, and the like) when the mission is started may varyaccording to a timing of participation in the mission.

Once the mission A is started in the hand-held game apparatus 10 b, thehand-held game apparatus 10 b also periodically broadcasts a missionbeacon as shown in FIG. 9. Accordingly, until the end of the mission,the hand-held game apparatus 10 a receives the mission beaconbroadcasted periodically from the hand-held game apparatus 10 b, andthereby the hand-held game apparatus 10 a can obtain a personal score ofthe player B in real time and update the total score. Similarly, untilthe end of the mission, the hand-held game apparatus 10 b also receivesthe mission beacon broadcasted periodically from the hand-held gameapparatus 10 a, and thereby the hand-held game apparatus 10 b can obtaina personal score of the player A in real time and update the totalscore.

In a case of the mission A, it is determined that the mission has beensuccessful if 60 or more balls are picked up in 10 minutes. Thedetermination is made based on the total score but not on the respectivepersonal scores. Consequently, if the player A and the player B pick up45 balls and 30 balls, respectively, for example, the total score is 75and it is determined that the mission has been successful. When it isdetermined that the mission has been successful, all the players (here,the player A and the player B) who have participated in the missionreceive a reward (e.g., money, items, and the like in the game world)for success which is predetermined according to each mission.

As described above, success/failure of the mission is determined basedon the total score but not on the respective personal scores.Consequently, it is more advantageous when the number of players whoparticipate in the mission is greater. For example, in an example ofFIG. 10, in addition to the player B of the hand-held game apparatus 10b, a player C of a hand-held game apparatus 10 c is participating in themission started by the player A of the hand-held game apparatus 10 a. Inthis case, the hand-held game apparatus 10 a updates the total score, inreal time, based on the mission beacon of the hand-held game apparatus10 b and a mission beacon of the hand-held game apparatus 10 c.Similarly, the hand-held game apparatus 10 b updates the total score, inreal time, based on the mission beacon of the hand-held game apparatus10 a and the mission beacon of the hand-held game apparatus 10 c.Similarly, the hand-held game apparatus 10 c updates the total score, inreal time, based on the mission beacon of the hand-held game apparatus10 a and the mission beacon of the hand-held game apparatus 10 b.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment, a pluralityof hand-held game apparatuses exchange information of a missioncurrently being executed among each other via mission beacons, thereby aplurality of players can participate in a same mission and playtogether.

Next, the operation of the hand-held game apparatus 10 will be describedin detail with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 14.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a program and information stored in the mainmemory 15 of the hand-held game apparatus 10.

A game program D1 is a computer program for causing the processor 13 toexecute the above described single player game and the respectivemissions. The game program D1 is read out from the internal storage unit14 and loaded into the main memory 15. The game program D1 includes aroutine for executing the above described single player game androutines for executing the above described respective missions (missionA, mission B, mission C).

Mission identification information D2 is information for identifying amission currently being executed.

Mission condition information D3 is information indicating a condition(e.g., mission end time and the like) of the mission currently beingexecuted.

Personal score information D4 is information indicating a score of aplayer of an own hand-held game apparatus 10. The personal scoreinformation D4 is updated when, for example, a player character performsa predetermined action (action predetermined for each mission) in theown hand-held game apparatus 10.

Another player score information D5 is information indicating a score ofa player of another hand-held game apparatus 10. The another playerscore information D5 is updated when, for example, a mission beacon fromthe other hand-held game apparatus 10 is received.

Total score information D6 is information indicating a sum of the scoreof the player of the own hand-held game apparatus 10 and the score ofthe player of the other hand-held game apparatus 10. The total scoreinformation D6 is updated when either the personal score information D4or the another player score information D5 is updated.

FIG. 12 shows an example of data included in a mission beacon. Themission beacon includes mission identification information D7, missioncondition information D8, player identification information D9, andpersonal score information D10.

The mission identification information D7 is information indicating amission currently being executed. The mission identification informationD7 may include a value determined randomly at a start of the mission inaddition to information (e.g., a mission number and the like) foridentifying each of a plurality of missions (mission A, mission B, andmission C in the exemplary embodiment) provided in advance. Accordingly,when a mission (e.g., mission A) having a common mission number isstarted in each of a hand-held game apparatus and another hand-held gameapparatus, the mission can be identified.

Similar to the mission condition information D3, the mission conditioninformation D8 is information indicating a condition (e.g., a missionend time and the like) of the mission currently being executed.

The player identification information D9 is information for identifyinga hand-held game apparatus 10 which has transmitted the mission beaconor a player thereof. As the player identification information D9,information such as a player name and the like registered in thehand-held game apparatus 10 may be used. Alternatively, a serial numberassigned to the hand-held game apparatus 10, a MAC address of thewireless communication device 16, and the like may be used.

The personal score information D10 is information indicating a score ofa player of the own hand-held game apparatus 10.

Next, a flow of processing executed by the processor 13 of the hand-heldgame apparatus 10 based on the game program D1 will be described withreference to flow charts of FIG. 13 and FIG. 14.

Upon start of execution of the game program D1, the processor 13 firstlystarts a single player game in step S10 of FIG. 13.

In step S11, the processor 13 performs a game process. The game processincludes, for example, a process of controlling a player character basedon a signal from the input device 11, a process of controlling an enemyand a non-player character based on a predetermined algorithm, a processof causing a predetermined event in a game world, a process ofgenerating a game image and outputting the game image to the displaydevice 12, and the like.

In step S12, the processor 13 determines whether a mission startinstruction has been received from a player. Then, if the mission startinstruction has been received from the player (for example, when “YES”is selected in FIG. 3), the processor 13 proceeds the processing to stepS13. Otherwise, the processor 13 proceeds the processing to step S15.

In step S13, the processor 13 selects a mission from a plurality ofmissions provided in advance. The selection may be made based on aninstruction from the player as shown in FIG. 4 or may be madeautomatically by the processor 13 based on a predetermined rule. At thistime, the mission identification information D2 corresponding to theselected mission is stored in the main memory 15. Further, an end timeand the like of the selected mission is calculated as appropriate andthe calculated end time and the like is stored in the main memory 15 asthe mission condition information D3.

In step S14, the processor 13 starts the mission selected in step S13.Specifically, the processor 13 starts to execute a routine for themission selected in step S13 in parallel with a routine for the singleplayer game of the game program D1. For example, a routine for themission A includes a process of causing a plurality of balls appear inthe game world when the mission A is started, a process of deleting oneof the balls from the game world when the player character touches theball and updating the personal score information D4 of the main memory15, and the like.

In step S15, the processor 13 determines whether any of the missions iscurrently being executed in the own hand-held game apparatus 10. Then,if one of the missions is currently being executed, the processor 13proceeds the processing to step S16. Otherwise, the processor 13proceeds the processing to step S20 of FIG. 14.

In step S16, the processor 13 updates the personal score information D4and the total score information D6 of the main memory 15 based on aresult (i.e., a content of an action of the player character in the gameworld) of the game process in step S11. For example, while the mission Ais being executed, points are added to a personal score each time theplayer character touches a ball. The total score information D6 can becalculated based on the personal score information D4 and the anotherplayer score information D5.

In step S17, the processor 13 displays information (e.g., my score,total score, time left in FIG. 5, and the like) of a progress status ofthe mission currently being executed. The my score can be obtained fromthe personal score information D4 of the main memory 15. The total scorecan be obtained from the total score information D6 of the main memory15. The time left can be calculated based on a real-time clock (notshown) provided in the hand-held game apparatus 10 and the end timeincluded in the mission condition information D3 of the main memory 15.

In step S18, the processor 13 generates a mission beacon as in FIG. 12based on the personal score information D4 of the main memory 15 and thelike. The generated mission beacon is broadcasted via the wirelesscommunication device 16 at a predetermined timing. Then, the processor13 proceeds the processing to step S20 of FIG. 14.

In step S20 of FIG. 14, the processor 13 determines whether a missionbeacon of another hand-held game apparatus 10 has been received via thewireless communication device 16. Then, if the mission beacon of theother hand-held game apparatus 10 has been received, the processor 13proceeds the processing to step S21. Otherwise, the processor 13proceeds the processing to step S27.

In step S21, the processor 13 determines whether any of the missions isbeing executed in the own hand-held game apparatus 10. Then, if one ofthe missions is currently being executed, the processor 13 proceeds theprocessing to step S22. Otherwise, the processor 13 proceeds theprocessing to step S24.

In step S22, the processor 13 determines whether the mission indicatedby the received mission beacon is the mission currently being executedin the own hand-held game apparatus 10. The determination is made by,for example, collating the mission identification information D7included in the received mission beacon with the mission identificationinformation D2 of the main memory 15. Then, if the mission indicated bythe received mission beacon is the mission currently being executed inthe own hand-held game apparatus 10, the processor 13 proceeds theprocessing to step S23. Otherwise, the processor 13 proceeds theprocessing to step S27.

In step S23, the processor 13 updates the another player scoreinformation D5 and the total score information D6 of the main memory 15based on the player identification information D9 and the personal scoreinformation D10 included in the received mission beacon.

In step S24, the processor 13 displays a message (e.g., the message inFIG. 7) asking the player of the own hand-held game apparatus 10 whetheror not to participate in the mission (that is, the mission alreadystarted in the other hand-held game apparatus 10) corresponding to themission identification information D7 included in the received missionbeacon.

In step S25, the processor 13 determines whether the player of the ownhand-held game apparatus 10 participates in the mission (for example,whether the player has selected “YES” in FIG. 7). Then, if the player ofthe own hand-held game apparatus 10 participates in the mission, theprocessor 13 proceeds the processing to step S26. Otherwise, theprocessor 13 proceeds the processing to step S27.

In step S26, the processor 13 starts the mission corresponding to themission identification information D7 included in the received missionbeacon. Specifically, the processor 13 starts to execute a routine forthe mission corresponding to the mission identification information D7included in the received mission beacon in parallel with the routine forthe single player game of the game program D1. For example, if themission identification information D7 included in the received missionbeacon indicates the mission A, the processor 13 starts to execute theroutine for the mission A. Similarly, if the mission identificationinformation D7 included in the received mission beacon indicates themission B, the processor 13 starts to execute a routine for the missionB.

It should be noted that when the mission is started in step S26, themission identification information D2 and the mission conditioninformation D3 are stored in the main memory 15 based on the missionidentification information D7 and the mission condition information D8included in the received mission beacon.

In step S27, the processor 13 determines whether a mission end conditionis satisfied. Examples of the mission end condition are that an endcondition (for example, that a predetermined time period has elapsed,that the total score has reached a predetermined value, and the like)predetermined for each mission is satisfied, that a mission endinstruction has been received from the player in the middle of themission, and the like. Then, if the mission end condition is satisfied,the processor 13 proceeds the processing to step S28. Otherwise, theprocessor 13 returns the processing to step S11 of FIG. 13.

In step S28, the processor 13 ends the mission. In case of the missionA, for example, a process of deleting all of the balls which haveappeared in the game world at the start of the mission from the gameworld, and the like is performed.

In step S29, the processor 13 determines whether or not the mission hasbeen successful. Whether or not the mission has been successful isdetermined, for example, based on whether the total score indicated bythe total score information D6 of the main memory 15 has reached atarget total score predetermined for each mission. Then, if the missionhas been successful, the processor 13 proceeds the processing to stepS30. Otherwise, the processor 13 returns the processing to step S11 ofFIG. 13.

In step S30, the processor 13 performs a success process. An example ofthe success process may be granting a reward (e.g., money, items, andthe like in the game world) for success predetermined according to eachmission, and the like.

The above described processes in steps S11 to S30 are repeated atpredetermined intervals (e.g., intervals of 1/60 sec), thereby thesingle player game is advanced. Occasionally, a mission in which asingle player or a plurality of players participate is advanced inparallel with the single player game.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment, a pluralityof hand-held game apparatuses 10 exchange mission beacons amongthemselves, thereby a mission is advanced. Thus, there is no need toestablish connection between one hand-held game apparatus 10 and anotherhand-held game apparatus 10. Consequently, no wait time for connectionestablishment and the like is needed, which allows a player toparticipate in the mission instantly.

Further, according to the exemplary embodiment, even when a number ofgame apparatuses which can be connected concurrently is limited, amultiple player game can be enjoyed in the number of game apparatusesexceeding the limit because there is no need to establish connectionbetween one hand-held game apparatus 10 and another hand-held gameapparatus 10.

Further, according to the exemplary embodiment, in the hand-held gameapparatus 10 which has received a mission beacon, based on missionidentification information included in the received mission beacon, amission (routine for the mission) corresponding to the missionidentification information is automatically selected from a plurality ofmissions provided in advance. Accordingly, a player of the hand-heldgame apparatus 10 which has received the mission beacon can easilyparticipate in the mission started by another player without manuallyselecting the corresponding mission from the plurality of missionsprovided in advance.

Further, according to the exemplary embodiment, while a mission is beingexecuted, a total score is updated in real time based on personal scoreinformation included in a mission beacon of another hand-held gameapparatus 10. Consequently, a player can feel as if the player isactually participating in a same mission with another player. That is,the player can feel as if the player is actually participating in thesame mission with the other player because data of a progress of themission in the other hand-held game apparatus 10 can be received fromthe other hand-held game apparatus 10.

Further, according to the exemplary embodiment, a mission is started ina same game world as a single player game without suspending the singleplayer game. Thus, a player can participate in the mission withouthesitation and without suspending the single player game.

Further, according to the exemplary embodiment, a mission beaconincludes mission condition information (a mission end time and thelike), which allows a mission to be executed under common conditions ina plurality of hand-held game apparatuses 10 (for example, the missioncan be ended at the same time in the plurality of hand-held gameapparatuses 10).

It is noted that the above exemplary embodiment is only for illustrativepurposes and numerous other modifications can be devised.

For example, in the above exemplary embodiment, the hand-held gameapparatus 10 is used. However, the present technology is not limitedthereto, and any information processor (e.g., a mobile phone, asmartphone, a notebook computer, and the like) having a wirelesscommunication function may be used.

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, the game program whichallows a plurality of players to participate in a same mission togetheris executed. However, the present technology is not limited thereto, andany application which allows users of a plurality of informationprocessors to participate together using wireless communication may beexecuted. Further, any program or a routine which uses wirelesscommunication between a plurality of information processors may beexecuted. For example, a program or a routine which causes a hostapparatus to generate predetermined data and transmit the predetermineddata to a client apparatus via wireless communication and causes theclient apparatus to receive and process the predetermined data may beexecuted in the host apparatus and the client apparatus. Further, forexample, a program or a routine which causes a client apparatus togenerate predetermined data and transmit the predetermined data to ahost apparatus via wireless communication and causes the host apparatusto receive and process the predetermined data may be executed in thehost apparatus and the client apparatus.

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, a mission beacon includingthe mission identification information is broadcasted from each of thehand-held game apparatuses 10 and a mission corresponding to the missionidentification information included in the mission beacon is selected inthe hand-held game apparatus 10 which has received the mission beacon.However, the present technology is not limited thereto. For example, afirst information processor may broadcast identification informationindicating a program or a routine being executed therein via a beaconsignal and the like. Then, a second information processor which hasreceived the broadcasted identification information may automaticallyselect, from a plurality of programs or a plurality of routines storedin the second information processor, a program or a routinecorresponding to the received identification information and start toexecute the selected program or routine. Accordingly, in the secondinformation processor, the program or the routine corresponding to theprogram or the routine being executed in the first information processorcan be automatically selected and the selected program or routineexecutes wireless communication with the first information processor.Consequently, a user does not have to bother to manually select anappropriate program or routine. Therefore, the program or routine thatuses wireless communication can be easily executed. It should be notedthat the wireless communication executed by the selected program orroutine may be conducted by using the beacon signal without establishingconnection between the apparatuses as in the above exemplary embodiment,or may be conducted after the communication between the apparatuses isestablished.

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, when the hand-held gameapparatus 10 receives a mission beacon of the other hand-held gameapparatus 10, the message asking the player of the hand-held gameapparatus 10 whether or not to participate in the mission currentlybeing executed in the other hand-held game apparatus 10 is displayed asshown in FIG. 7. However, the present technology is not limited thereto.In another embodiment, the player of the hand-held game apparatus 10 mayautomatically participate in the mission currently being executed in theother hand-held game apparatus 10 without being asked whether or not toparticipate in the mission currently being executed in the otherhand-held game apparatus 10 (that is, a routine for the correspondingmission may be automatically started).

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, success/failure of themission is determined based on the total score obtained by summing thepersonal scores of all the players. However, the present technology isnot limited thereto. The determination of the success/failure of themission may be made by another method. For example, at a time point atwhich one of the players has first defeated a specific enemy, it may bedetermined that the player has succeeded in the mission and the rest ofplayers have failed in the mission.

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, the personal score of eachplayer is broadcasted by the mission beacon. However, instead of thepersonal score, information indicating that the personal score has beenincreased may be broadcasted via the mission beacon each time thepersonal score of each player is increased. In this case, the personalscore of the player corresponding to the mission beacon which is storedas the another player score information may be increased in eachhand-held game apparatus 10 which has received the mission beacon.

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, the information of themission currently being executed is broadcasted by the beacon signal.However, the present technology is not limited thereto. The informationof the mission currently being executed may be transmitted to anunspecified apparatus (that is, to be transmitted without beingaddressed to a specific apparatus) using a signal other than the beaconsignal.

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, the plurality of processesshown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are executed by a single computer (theprocessor 13). However, in another embodiment, the plurality ofprocesses may be shared and executed by a plurality of computers.Further, in another embodiment, a part of or all of the plurality ofprocesses may be realized by a dedicated circuit.

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, the plurality of processesshown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are executed in a single informationprocessor (the hand-held game apparatus 10). However, in anotherembodiment, the plurality of processes may be shared and executed by aplurality of information processors (e.g., the hand-held game apparatus10 and a server apparatus).

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, the game program D1 isloaded into the main memory 15 from the internal storage unit 14.However, in another embodiment, the game program D1 may be read from anexternal storage unit and loaded into the main memory 15, or may bereceived from another hand-held game apparatus 10 or a server apparatusand loaded into the main memory 15.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing system including afirst computing device and a second computing device, each of whichincludes a wireless transceiver and a processing system that includes amemory coupled to at least one hardware processor, the processing systemof the first computing device programmed to: execute a first applicationprogram in accordance with input provided by a user to the firstcomputing device; transmit, via the wireless transceiver of the firstcomputing device, to unspecified apparatus(es), while the firstapplication program is being executed, identification information thatidentifies the first application program and/or a routine of the firstapplication program, and the processing system of the second computingdevice programmed to: receive, via the transceiver of the secondcomputing device, the identification information transmitted from thefirst computing device to the unspecified apparatus(es); and responsiveto reception of the identification information, initiate execution, fromamong a plurality of programs or a plurality of routines stored in thememory of the second computing device and not currently being executedby the second computing device, of at least one of the plurality ofprograms or at least one of a plurality of routines that corresponds tothe received identification information.
 2. The information processingsystem of claim 1, wherein the identification information iscommunicated as part of a beacon at predetermined intervals.
 3. Theinformation processing system of claim 1, wherein in the initiatedexecution of the at least one of the plurality of programs or the atleast one of the plurality of routines in response to reception of theidentification information, the first and second computing devicesrespectively communicate with one another, via connectionless orbroadcast transmissions performed by the respective transceivers, dataregarding execution of a) the first application program and b) the atleast one of the plurality of programs or the at least one of theplurality of routines.
 4. The information processing system of claim 3,wherein the data communicated between the first and second computingdevices is data related to performance of a cooperative-enabled taskthat allows, via the connectionless or broadcast transmissions,participation of the user of the first information processor togetherwith a user of the second information processor using wirelesscommunication towards completion of the cooperative-enabled task.
 5. Theinformation processing system of claim 1, wherein the processing systemof the second computing device is further programmed to: present aprompt as to whether or not the at least one of the plurality ofprograms or the at least one of the plurality of routines is to beexecuted.
 6. The information processing system of claim 1, wherein theat least one of the plurality of programs or the at least one of theplurality of routines is automatically executed in response to receptionof the identification information.
 7. The information processing systemof claim 1, wherein: data used by the program or the routine istransmitted together with the identification information to theunspecified apparatus(es), the at least one of the plurality of programsor the at least one of the plurality of routines is executed using thedata transmitted from the first computing device.
 8. The informationprocessing system of claim 1, wherein: the processing system of thesecond computing device programmed to: transmit, while the at least oneof the plurality of programs or the at least one of the plurality ofroutines is being executed, first data used in the at least one of theplurality of programs or the at least one of the plurality of routinestogether with identification information for identifying the at leastone of the plurality of programs or the at least one of the plurality ofroutines to unspecified apparatus(es), the first application program isexecuted based on the first data transmitted from the second computingdevice.
 9. The information processing system of claim 8, wherein thefirst data relates to performance of a mission, which has been startedby a user of the first computing device, in the first applicationprogram, the at least one of the plurality of programs or the at leastone of the plurality of routines allow a user of the second computingdevice to participate in the mission after the mission has started, andthe first data includes mission progress data.
 10. The informationprocessing system of claim 1, wherein the program or the routine is aprogram or a routine for a game process.
 11. The information processingsystem of claim 3, wherein at least some of the data communicated fromthe second computing device to the first computing device via theconnectionless or broadcast transmissions updates the executing firstapplication program.
 12. The information processing system of claim 3,wherein at least some of the data communicated from the first computingdevice to the second computing device via the connectionless orbroadcast transmissions updates the executing at least one program orthe executing at least one routine.
 13. A computer-readablenon-transitory storage medium having stored therein an informationprocessing program for use with a second computing device configured tocommunicate with a first computing device, each of the first and secondcomputing devices including a wireless transceiver and a processingsystem that includes a memory coupled to at least one hardwareprocessor, the first computing device configured to at least a) executea first application program in accordance with provided input, and b)transmit to unspecified apparatus(es), while the first applicationprogram is being executed, identification information that identifiesthe first application program and/or a routine of the first applicationprogram, the information processing program comprising instructionswhich cause the processing system of the second computing device to:receive, via the transceiver of the second computing device, theidentification information which is transmitted from the first computingdevice to the unspecified apparatus(es); and responsive to reception ofthe identification information, initiate execution, from among aplurality of programs or a plurality of routines stored in the memory ofthe second computing device and not currently being executed by thesecond computing device, of at least one of the plurality of programs orat least one of a plurality of routines that corresponds to the receivedidentification information.
 14. The computer-readable non-transitorystorage medium of claim 13, wherein in the initiated execution of the atleast one of the plurality of programs or the at least one of theplurality of routines in response to reception of the identificationinformation, the first and second computing devices respectivelycommunicate with one another, via connectionless or broadcasttransmissions performed by the respective transceivers, data regardingexecution of a) the first application program and b) the at least one ofthe plurality of programs or the at least one of the plurality ofroutines.
 15. An information processing method performed by at least afirst information processor and a second information processor, each ofthe first and second information processors including a wirelesstransceiver and a memory coupled to at least one hardware processor, theinformation processing method comprising: executing, in the firstinformation processor, a first application program in accordance withinput provided by a user to the first computing device; transmitting, byusing the wireless transceiver of the first information processor and tounspecified apparatus(es), while the first application program or theroutine is being executed, identification information that identifiesthe first application program and/or a routine of the first applicationprogram; receiving, by using the transceiver of the second informationprocessor, the identification information transmitted from the firstinformation processor to the unspecified apparatus(es); and responsiveto reception of the identification information, initiate execution, fromamong a plurality of programs or a plurality of routines stored in thememory of the second information processor and not currently beingexecuted by the second information processor, of at least one of theplurality of programs or at least one of a plurality of routines thatcorresponds to the received identification information.
 16. Theinformation processing method of claim 15, wherein in the initiatedexecution of the at least one of the plurality of programs or the atleast one of the plurality of routines in response to reception of theidentification information, the first and second information processorsrespectively communicate with one another, via connectionless orbroadcast transmissions performed by the respective transceivers, dataregarding execution of a) the first application program and b) the atleast one of the plurality of programs or the at least one of theplurality of routines
 17. A computing apparatus configured tocommunicate with another computing apparatus that is configured to atleast a) execute a first application program in accordance with providedinput, and b) transmit to unspecified apparatus(es), while the firstapplication program is being executed, identification information thatidentifies the first application program and/or a routine of the firstapplication program, the computing apparatus comprising: a wirelesstransceiver; and a processing system that includes a memory coupled toat least one hardware processor, the processing system configured to atleast: receive, via the wireless transceiver, the identificationinformation transmitted from the another computing apparatus to theunspecified apparatus(es); and responsive to reception of theidentification information, initiate performance, from among a pluralityof programs or a plurality of routines stored in the memory of theprocessing system and not currently being executed by the processingsystem, of at least one of the plurality of programs or at least one ofa plurality of routines that corresponds to the received identificationinformation.
 18. The computing apparatus of claim 17, wherein in theinitiated performance of the at least one of the plurality of programsor the at least one of the plurality of routines in response toreception of the identification information, the computing apparatus andthe another computing apparatus respectively communicate with oneanother, via connectionless or broadcast transmissions performed byrespective transceivers, data regarding performance of a) the firstapplication program and b) the at least one of the plurality of programsor the at least one of the plurality of routines.
 19. The computingapparatus of claim 17, wherein as part of performance of the at leastone of the plurality of programs or the at least one of the plurality ofroutines, the computing apparatus and the another computing apparatuscommunicate, via connectionless or broadcast transmissions performed byrespective transceivers, data regarding performance of a) the firstapplication program and b) the at least one of the plurality of programsor the at least one of the plurality of routines.